PCV Pressure

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 23 Jul 2008, 15:19

I had done the seafoam (oil, intake and fuel) and it didn't seem to effect much. I guess i could try it again in the oil now that i've done and oil change. should I try disconnecting the tube that goes up between the spark plugs and pouring seafoam down into the new oil separator - then possibly it would get directly to the holes that go into the block.... good idea? bad idea?

I cleaned the PTC as clean as I could seemingly get it. Its it worth just getting a new one? i know they're not cheap, but....?...?.... it was super clogged. the smaller nipple took a drill bit to clean it out and the inside was really cruddy. Someone above talked about steelwool - i'm not sure how i'd clean the inside with steel wool...

I'm not clear on which port you're talking on the block that you use a coat hanger to clean out. Does that mean taking the intake manifold off again?

either way I'm def getting oil vapor & pressure out of the dipstick tube.

Post by **holler1** » 23 Jul 2008, 18:24

Chuck,
You were right that I meant to dump some seafoam down the tube that connects to the oil trap. I read a thread on this forum that suggested that, but wasn't too specific about what good it does. I tried it anyway. Regarding the PTC, I did get the accordion hose out last night and cleaned the PTC some. The clamp was turned up and I got a small socket and ratchet on it. A 20" screwdriver sounds like an excellent tool to have! I'll take another look but the PTC looks pretty clean. I don't think the PTC comes out of the hose, does it? I was worried about breaking it off by twisting. I haven't ordered the PCV kit yet but will do that tonight if time allows. A good friend of 40+ years died 2 days ago and I have been spending time communicating with his out of town friends.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 23 Jul 2008, 18:51

To answer your questions:

1. Either steel wool or scraping the inside of the larger opening on the PTC...I removed it from the accordion tube when I did mine, it twists out and is easy to re-seat.

2. Pouring seafoam into the breather box isn't going to do much good; you'd have to fill the darn thing up to the top to get seafoam into the block port near the top of the motor. Much as I love seafoam I'm not sure I want that much of it pouring into my motor.

3. Sorry to say, yes you need to take the intake manifold off again to really make sure those crankcase (block) ports are cleaned out. Don't feel bad, I had to do the same thing. "we do things right...we do them twice"...

Did you read the thread I linked, about four or five posts north of here ^^ ? It gives some insight as to my own dilemma with this system and maybe a couple of additional pointers.

-Chuck

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 24 Jul 2008, 20:04

I did read your post. I guess I'll be pulling the intake again. At least i know how to do it so it should be much easier than the first time.

I may get a new PTC as the one i have, the rubber is pretty worn out and it doesn't snap into the accordion tube very well anymore.

any other tips are still well welcomed.

Post by **JRL** » 25 Jul 2008, 05:20

hrm wrote:I did read your post. I guess I'll be pulling the intake again. At least i know how to do it so it should be much easier than the first time.

I may get a new PTC as the one i have, the rubber is pretty worn out and it doesn't snap into the accordion tube very well anymore.

any other tips are still well welcomed.

I don't understand why anyone would go thru all the trouble to remove the intake, etc. and not replace everything with all new parts

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 25 Jul 2008, 06:31

The PTC isn't part of the normal PCV replacement kit and doesn't require removing the intake.

The PTC is at the bottom of the accordion hose from the airbox down to the turbo.

Post by **tailor** » 26 Jul 2008, 06:21

This is what part of it it looks like, for those who cannot picture it, it will only be found on Turbos.

and the replacement:

and the nipple:

Notice how the rubber on the bottom has deteriated....do not remove your nipple....it is most awkward to put back.

Eventually I resorted to replacing the hose , FCP seemed the best deal at the time.

Post by **holler1** » 27 Jul 2008, 09:24

My PTC seemed to be in good shape, so I'm assuming the PCV oil trap is clogged. Seafoam in the oil, oil trap, and gasoline didn't seem to do anything to reduce the small amount of oil mist coming from the dipstick. I ordered the PCV kit yesterday and will post again after installing it, probably in a week or two. I have to get some welding done on my hood latch in the meantime and have asked the welder to try to fix the "cracking" front door stops. It turned out that the sheet metal on the hood where the u-shaped latch attaches was cracked, so it probably was fortunate that I used brute force and a hacksaw on the latch to get access when my latch cable broke.

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 27 Jul 2008, 13:07

it could be that the passage in the block is crudded up but the oil separator could be in pretty decent shape. Mine looked like it was brand new, although I haven't cut it open yet, it did not feel like it weighed any different than the brand new one. I would expected if it was full of crud to weigh more at least.

Post by **holler1** » 28 Jul 2008, 08:07

I was thinking of pulling loose the hose that goes to the top of the head from the oil trap, sticking a small pipe down through it into the trap and hooking it to a shop vac to see if I could suck out whatever is in the trap. However, that would not fix clogs in the side passages into the block. Car is at a body shop now to get my hood latch fixed, and I ordered the PCV kit from FCP Groton. I'll work on it again next week. Assuming the shop vac trick doesn't work (and it probably won't), I'll replace the trap then. I'm assuming there is nothing tricky about removing the manifold (I read the thread), except finding the hidden bolt at the bottom of the manifold.